News &amp; Features - October 2009

Retired Loveland Firefighters Larry Halsey, right, and Fran Lyons attempt to figure out how a belay device works as they get ready for opening day of the new firefighting exhibit at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

Pat Sullivan affixes a sign to an exhibit Thursday as she and other volunteers get the new Firefighter Exhibit ready for opening day at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

Retired Loveland Firefighters Walt Ballinger, left and Larry Halsey look at the board that holds all of the names of firefighters since 1911 on Thursday as they and other volunteers and former retired firefighters get the new Firefighter Exhibit ready for opening day at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

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Candidates for the Thompson School District Board of Education participate in a forum Monday night at the district's administration building at 800 S. Taft Ave. Back from left are Diana Greer, Lori Hvizda Ward and Sharon Olson.

A scarf adorns the sculpture of a woman and child on Sunday along Fourth Street.

Jadynn Lewis, 6, of Johnstown and her cousing Nathan Briggs, 4, pick out pumpkins on Sunday during Market Days at Osborn Farm. From pumpkin patches to corn mazes, Lovelanders will have their pick of possibilities for fall fun this year.

Alan and Judy Johnson pass the sculpture of a frog adorned with a scarf on Sunday along Fourth Street. The scarves were placed by the Downtown Scarf Project: Handspun Handwoven Hometown, to draw attention to the art of weaving during National Spinning and Weaving Week . The scarves will be donated to the Interfaith Hospitality Network's Angel House.

David Gomez, right, of Loveland says goodbye to his nephew Jose Hernandez, left, and his wife, Shannon, and son Demitriez, on Sunday after the 3rd Annual Northern Colorado Kidney Walk at Fairgrounds Park. Gomez, who lives life without working kidneys, spends four and three quarter hours, three days a week at dialysis. He walked the long loop of the benefit walk.

Family and friends of David Gomez and others from around Colorado walked to support his battle with kidney disease on Sunday during the 3rd Annual Northern Colorado Kidney Walk at Fairgrounds Park.

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A gull flies over the tennis courts at Loveland High School on Saturday afternoon during while area tennis players compete in the Front Range League Tournament.

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Scrabble players compete in the Northern Colorado Scrabble Club tournament on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 at the Chilson Senior Center. Clockwise from bottom left are Jim Fischer of Arvada, Fort Collins residents Dan Fleishman and Sharon Sudac and Robert Woodruff of Loveland.

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Four-year-olds Nolan Simon, right, and Ben Hughes eat sno cones Saturday afternoon while listening to a live band perform during the Barley Days and Barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 at Fickel Park in Berthoud. Back from left are Anabelle Hughes, 17 months, Gerri Turrisi, Annie Johnson and Amelia Hughes, 3.

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Dominick Mancine places a tile on the board while playing a game of Scrabble against Rick Wittekind during the Northern Colorado Scrabble Club tournament on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 at the Chilson Senior Center.

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Loveland resident Phillip Difentino, 8, right, competes against Scott Land, 10, as they attempt to blow up balloons and make them pot at the Boom Blaster game during the Barley Days and Barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 at Fickel Park in Berthoud. Watching the competition, back from left, are Maddie Rusk, 10, Emma Vittetoe, 10, Taylor Welchman, 8, and Jacob Waggener, 16.

Susan Bock recently won the "Anytime Fitness Member Success Story 2009." Bock, who's weight was joked about on Jay Leno's "Headlines" segment, got the last laugh when she won the award for losing 150 pounds.

Ryan Schlaefer, who co-owns Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture Inc., with his wife Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, stands among some blue-stained lumber that will be turned into luxery furniture.

Boat inspector Wendy Blanchard waits to inspect boats on Wednesday at Carter Lake. This is the last week that boat inspectors be on hand full time to allow boats to launch. Starting next week, boaters will only be allowed on the water on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October while boat inspectors are there.

Wyoming author Craig Johnson answers a question during a reading from his book "The Cold Dish" on Thursday evening at the Rialto Theater in downtown Loveland.

Boat inspector Wendy Blanchard talks with her supervisor Eric Bollar on Wednesday at Carter Lake. This is the last week that boat inspectors be on hand full time to allow boats to launch. Starting next week, boaters will only be allowed on the water on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October while boat inspectors are there.

Members of the public listen to city council candidates during a forum on Wednesday night in the Loveland City Council chambers.